Distribution: All Mooseknucklers

Subject: This Friday is the Mooseknuckler Cup. Meet at the Mooseknuckler Cycling Alliance Social Lounge a little before 8 (we will be riding out at 8 sharp) for the fourth race in the Mooseknuckler Cup Series. This is the first Alley Cat to ever take place in Washington, Utah making it Epic and Historical. You definitely don’t wanna miss out. As always we will end the race in a location that will allow for lots of story telling and shit talking. Be there!

End Memo.

I’ve been getting a lot of inquiries about the Alliance this last week or so. As many of you have probably noticed, I never really know what to say. For those of you searching for meaning, I will now do my best to define the Alliance. We are an Alliance (loosely affiliated) of cyclists that like to ride, get rowdy and have fun. The Alliance has no specific goals that it tries to accomplish, there are no members and no membership dues. We are like a club without leadership. The Alliance has and will attempt (probably poorly) to put on underground/small events to facilitate the getting rowdy and riding bikes. And as an Alliance any of you who consider yourselves part of the MCA can add to that definition whatever you want. Add it in the comments…

In commuting news, the crazy guy on the blue bike has once again been spotted roaming the city. He has grown a beard and seems to be at it again. Blocking car traffic with a big smile on his face and a trail of petroleum free exhaust in his wake. He just wishes all the cars would stop blocking the bicycle traffic.

And now your shrubbery.

P. L. and R.

I rode my bike today. Yup, rode that bitch hard too. Busted out a quick 10 mph clip and made it to work in my usual 30 minutes. I got a grand total of 5.6 miles of riding in. It was about time. (and not the Mormon about time thing, more like a finally, about time thing).

All kidding aside it felt good to pedal a few miles. I even thought about taking the long sleeves off due to the amazing weather we’ve been having.

Anyway, I will not bore you any more with my weak accomplishments. However, there is an upcoming event that you should know about. The next installation of the Mooseknuckler Cup will be held in one week. January 27th meet at the lounge at 8 pm and come prepared to get rowdy. This will be the first Alley Cat held in Washington ever. It will be as historic as it is epic. Don’t miss out.

Now, I have to go take a hot bath, my legs are cramping up…

Out.

If you are lacking in the cool factor, these will most definitely make up for it. I can honestly say it is the only wallet I have ever owned that I get complimented on, consistently. Just think, you could be someone.

Since we are on the subject of wallets, I have been saving a rant for a while. It has simmered, aged and perfected itself. You see, I’ve been buzzed on my bike many times. So many times that I couldn’t tell you where that number sits. On occasion I have been buzzed by the same car, in the same spot, multiple times. However, there has only been one vehicle that has buzzed me that was dumb enough to have their phone number and place of business stickered across the back window.

I was nigh ran off the road twice by this same mini-van on Middleton Drive in April. I have spotted the van on ocassion in the city. One of those occassions was last night. I thought about keying the car, slashing their tires, or removing all four of their valve cores, but I was in front of Benja’s and could see the owners sitting right in front of their van enjoying dinner. So I took a picture.

Now, I don’t know these people, nor have I used their services, but as a cyclist that shares the road with them I will never be giving them a call. And I strongly suggest that none of you do either. In fact, you have their phone number and business name, do with it what you will, if you get my drift. It is a rare occasion that I get that kind of information on someone who doesn’t give space to cyclists.

So in the theme of wallets, don’t open yours to them.

In other wallet-themed news, we will be doing the below mentioned night ride. Meet at the Navajo Drive trailhead for the Bear Claw Poppy. We will ride as long as the temps feel good. I also know that one Fixie Dave has a good 12 pack of Cerveza that will warm you up or down at the end of said excursion and I don’t think he will ask for anything out of your wallet.

See you all in a couple of hours. I will have the wallets with me if you want one…

P. L. and R.

It’s been a bit since I talked about the crazy blue bike… Yup, I rode ‘er today and I couldn’t have been happier. Swerving all over the place, snot rockets and serious loogies, aint nothing better.

Now if my wife ever gets home we are off to see Fixie Dave off (even though he isn’t leaving for a bit still).

Out and over.

After riding the High Life on Wednesday, jumping back on the bike with a basket, rack and pannier felt slow, heavy and sluggish. And there wasn’t even a head wind.

The trip home felt normal again.

But the most important thing, I got to use my bell. Seeing that I usually don’t ride on the bike path and there aren’t a lot of pedestrians on my route, I rarely get to ring my bell. Fortunately, today an old high school friend whose house happens to be on my route was outside so I was able to ring my bell, not just once, but twice to get his attention and wave as I flew by at five mph.

Speaking of bells, this weekend the plan is to ride my bike. The wife and Prattipus’ wife planned a little excursion across the border and I am planning on following suit. Of course, Prattipus is stuck at the shop so he gets to pick us up. At which time I plan on being completely toasted…

On a side note about bells, DD is in town and we will be doing a ride tomorrow after work. If you’re interested meet at the Service Center around 6ish.

Bells are good, unless they are being wrung during business hours inside the confines of a bike shop. In that case they make me want to kill you.

Thanks.

The plan was simple but actual execution of the plan was not. I got up late. Spent way too much time reading before taking my breakfast. I spaced the fact that the cross bike was set up for commuting and only had flat pedals on it. Forgot to switch the gps over. Add all that up and I left the house about 15 minutes earlier than I would have on a normal commute.

Being that I can roll with the punches, I suited up despite the lack of time and headed out with adventure on my brain. I figured I would take the longest route possible given my time allowance. I added a grand total of four miles to my commute. Not much, I know but it felt good to stretch the legs and see some parts of town I normally do not.

Hopefully I have a little bit better luck on the execution next time.

On a side note Red Rock Team will be meeting at the bank on River Road and Riverside Drive in the morning at 6 am. Come ready for some punishment.

Out.

The Fotog Evidence…

Apparently this road doesn't continue

The portage.

As you all guessed, I spent most of the day working on bikes that weren’t exactly fun to work on. Expensive bikes that are designed around being uncomfortable and nigh impossible to work on. For the photo evidence, that isn’t up yet but will be soon, check out my other sight, thisbikeisfucked.blogspot.com. But I rode my bike and it was ok.

On my way home, riding my bike, I rode past the transition for the IM. There were three kids sessioning on their bmx bikes. I of course rode by on my crazy blue bike. This juxtaposition of bikes and desciplines, made me think that these two-wheeled love machines really are awesome. They can be enjoyed on so many different levels.

Which brings us to Yehuda, http://www.yehudamoon.com/index.php?date=2011-05-04

I also need to give a shout to Patrick over at Soulsidedown since he has been shouting from the house tops for the Alliance for the past bit. We appreciate the love and want to reciprocate. So for more blogginess like what you would expect from a site that celebrates bikes, music and beer, check out Soulsidedown.

I am currently listening to this.

And that about does it for tonight.

Out.

Let’s look back on what we learned.

1. It was suggested that we should get the shower and then do a month’s worth of commuting. However, I can say that I never heard one customer complain about our odors. It may have been because people are polite, but I think it is because you can ride a bike and not need to take a shower afterwards.

2. Stress melts away when I ride my bike. This wasn’t something that I actually learned this April but something that I had let slip away and with the challenge came the remembrance of said truth. I am happy when I get home from work, granted I rode home on my bike.

3. Simply riding your bike can motivate others to do so. Refer back to my post about my friend riding to work.

4. Bikes are the biggest form of rebellion known in our society. Again, not something I learned this month, but memories are good.

I’m sure everyone has a few they could share but we’ll cut the list off there. It’s been a good month and I’m glad we made it. Now we look forward to Bike Month when we will all drive our cars…

Happy May Day!

Helmet Hair

Has anyone else realized how much better beer tastes when you bring it home on your bike? If you haven’t, you should try again and wait for the awesome goodness…

As an editor’s side note, I wrote almost a complete post last night, thought I saved it only to awake to nothing more than a picture and one line of text. So, along the lines of Tenacious D’s greatest song ever, this is just a tribute.

Most of what I had typed out last night had to do with how grueling my day was and how riding my bike home, with beer in basket, made it all just fade away. And by the time I arrived at home, I was in a good mood and ready for some time with my wife. We enjoyed the Mooseknuckler Cycling Alliance World Headquarters’ Social Lounge and a couple of the beers I brough home on said basket. Perfect evening.

Of course, it was perfect once we watched some MASH.

Jumping to yet another subject, last week while I was riding said bike with basket to work, I witnessed a lady rolling up to a stop sign. Nothing out of the ordinary there, but she was applying make up at the same time. Again, not much out of the ordinary, but it made me think.

First, this lady is obviously concerned with her looks. I for one am not a fan of make-up, especially if I can tell you are wearing it. I also find it quite disturbing that a woman feels the need to paint her face in order to “look” good. Hmmm, I guess they really are selling hope. Anyway, the point is this lady was concerned enough about her looks to be applying said rediculousness, but I’m not sure how putting it on while driving comes into play. I would assume that it would be difficult to apply it properly while in motion. Meaning that she would be completely defeating the purpose for the make-up.

Second, I am amazed the things I see people doing while driving. Putting on make-up, texting, watching movies. I saw this guy drive close to an entire block talking to the guy sitting next to him without ever looking at the road. I don’t even do that on my bike and I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t do to much damage to anything I ran into. (even though I do have one hell of a bumper)

Jumping back to a completely different topic that happens to be related in the sense that it has to do with bikes and riding them to work, I recieved a text last night from one of my oldest and best friends. This particular friend has never been into biking, mountain or otherwise. I was a bit surprised that he was asking me how much air pressure his bike tire should have in it. This was about 10 pm so I responded and went to bed. Upon awaking this morning I saw that he had replied and said that he couldn’t get the tire up past 20 psi. I informed him that was a bit low and he probably had a hole. He then dropped a bomb on me and said that he had grabbed another bike and ridden to work.

That’s right folks, he left the coffin at home. He pedalled the two-wheeled love machine to his place of employment and even reported to the Alliance that he had loved being out there, despite the wind and couldn’t wait to do it again tomorrow.

MOOSEKNUCKLER APPROVED!

It made my day to know that he had ridden and that I was the motivating cause. It may be a slow revolution but it’s one worth fighting.

P. L. and R.